Sticking to a keto diet can be tough at times for even the most flexible omnivore. In an effort to hit the very high fat requirements needed to reach ketosis, most ketoers consume plenty of dairy, fatty meats and eggs for a fatty boost, but not everyone wants to go down this route, enter the vegan keto diet!
For vegans, who aren’t consuming any animal products, the keto diet can pose a particular challenge and needs a little lateral thinking to get their fat intake high and carbs low. This post will give you 20 keto friendly vegan dinners to add to your repertoire and benefit from the low carb, high fat way of eating!
Looking for help with the rest of the day staying on a vegan keto diet, then check out these 20 vegan keto breakfast recipes too once you’re done here!
In contrast to the typical, animal based keto diet with it’s high fat levels, a typical vegan diet often consists of a significant portion of grains and high calorie carbohydrates, often with a high carbohydrate to fat ratio.
If we’re going to adapt a vegan diet to be keto friendly we need to really up our intake of a selection of higher fat vegetables etc. and cut down on carb heavy ones. Avocados and nuts are great sources of healthy fats to include along with nut and olive oils, and coconut (For more avocado recipes try this round up for some great ideas).
Read on for 20 great Vegan Keto recipes for dinner
We’ve selected 20 brilliant ketogenic diet friendly vegan dinners to try here for you, give them a try and let us know your thoughts. Got any favorites among these? Or perhaps got some tips of your own? Let us know in the comments below:
Our vegan keto butter cauliflower ticks all the boxes with its combination of spices, warming flavours and simplicity of ingredients. This is a beautiful vegan keto recipe, a substantial, filling meal without carbs or animal products!
Pair this with some cauliflower rice for a great low carb vegan curry alternative. Cauliflower is a great substitute for meat in this recipe, with some bite and texture to it, as well as a plethora of health benefits.
Perfect for a family get together, a dinner with friends or a special treat after a long day: these vegan keto Portobello mushroom burgers are delicious and rich in nutrients.
Mushrooms are a brilliant addition to any vegan keto recipe, with a strong umami flavour and, if cooked well, a pleasing resistant texture that can be missed for those shifting to this way of eating from meat.
Tofu is an ideal protein source for the vegan keto diet, with just 1g net carbs per 100 grams!
You could pair these with our low carb baked courgette chips (just sub out the parmesan cheese for a vegan friendly alternative)
A dinner recipe that ticks all the boxes. This vegan keto sheet pan curried tofu and veggies dinner will definitely surprise you. This couldn't be easier to make, it's a perfect weeknight vegan keto meal.
This vegetable masala from Low Carb Maven packs a punch of flavour, without the need for meat. Making use of cauliflower as a great substitute for starchy potatoes, this is similar to a keto Aloo Gobi, hearty and filling with very few carbs. Ready in under 30 minutes this would make a great mid-week keto dinner.
A delicious, quick to make salad if you want a lighter vegan keto dinner (I tend to have my biggest meal at lunch). This asian inspired vegan keto tofu salad includes a delicious sesame dressing, with a nutty, umami flavor - highly recommended!
‘Meaty’ Portobello mushrooms give these low-carb, vegan tacos (from Healthy Nibbles and Bits) some bite and substance, using harissa for some spice and intense flavor.
Collard greens make a great low carb alternative to tortillas as the wrap. Packing these with a liberal helping of avocado guacamole will boost your fat intake so don’t hold back.
Zucchini noodes (zoodles!) are a bit of a staple on the keto diet, when I first started cutting out carbs pasta was one of the biggest thing’s I missed.
Pre-keto I would love making pasta as a quick and easy weeknight dinner, but actually the zucchini version is so much better, with more flavour and quicker too. This dish can be put together in under 10 minutes!
This dish from the Simple Vegan Blog avocado to create the pasta sauce is a great way to sneak in some healthy fats, and get a creamier texture overall.
I love Korean food, and am always looking for ways to get more into my own keto diet. This vegan, keto bibimbap from LowCarb Vegan uses tempeh as a meaty substitute, and a whole bunch of veggies in place of rice to keep this low carb.
Sometimes all you want is some pizza, and this vegan cauliflower crust from Detoxinista makes a great base to cover in your favourite, keto friendly (ideally high fat) toppings and plenty of olive oil (or chilli oil if you’re like me!)
Walnuts are a great addition to this chili from Abbey’s Kitchen, added texture and as a great source of monounsaturated fats. Black beans are a great source of fibre, which can often be lacking on a keto diet and help to bulk this out into a hearty, filling meal.
Adding dark chocolate to the sauce gives additional richness, and paired with some avocado or guac on the side this is a great, flavorful high fat meal without the need for any meat.
Another great use of the Portobello mushroom, this time from Low Carb Maven. These keto stuffed mushroom are super quick to put together on a weeknight, with the creamed curry spinach bringing tons of flavour, and plenty of fat when topped off with some walnuts.
Spiralized Vegetable Noodles with Smoked Tofu and Spicy Peanut Sauce
This noodle dish from SuperGoldenBakes looks stunning and colourful, with a delicious peanut sauce for a hit of healthy fats. Smoked tofu is a delicious alternative to meat, with a richness that some people miss when switching to a vegetable based diet.
Spiralized vegetables are a really flexible way to turn just about any dish into a keto friendly one, it’s definitely worth investing in a good spiralizer!
These vegan empanadas from LowCarb Vegan are quick to make, with a crisp outer shell and spiced filling. These would be great for a packed lunch too or for a picnic and are definitely worth a try.
This Keto Tabbouleh from Healthful Pursuit is a delicious vegan salad, to have as a main or as a side dish. This uses hemp hearts as a stand in for the grains usually found in a tabbouleh. Fresh herbs and lemon make this a really fresh tasting dish, which can be prepared in minutes, great as a last minute dinner!
A delicious, bright and colourful salad, this makes for a great vegan keto dinner recipe, perhaps as a side dish to serve with setian or Tofu.
This is the sort of salad I could eat every day, it's great alongside just about anything. A drop of balsamic vinegar in the dressing adds so much flavor, without going crazy on the carbs.
First there was cauli rice, the keto staple. Now taking things a step further we've got broccoli rice! This is going to be packed with vitamins and nutrients from using green veg as a bulk ingredient, which is fantastic, a perfect addition to a vegan keto meal.
Tofu can be a great, vegan friendly substitute where you would usually use meat or eggs. Here it makes a great filling for these roast vegetable vegan keto tacos. Tofu goes great with spices so don't hold back!
Lasagna is just one of those super satisfying, crowd pleaser dishes that you'll want to go back to time and again. This vegan keto lasagna recipe from the Minimalist Baker forgoes the usual meat and cheese sause for a much lighter, zucchini based dish. Vegan comfort food at it's best!
Vegan keto needn’t be hard
So there’s 20 animal free keto dinners, it’s clear you can still get great variety in your diet and plenty of fats whilst keeping vegan.
Looking for a vegan friendly dessert or snack? Check out our super easy vegan keto snack bars.
I’m planning to put together a bunch of vegan keto recipes in the coming months, any vegan ketoers out there let me know any tips or tricks you’ve got for low carb high fat living without the meat!
Where to next on your keto journey?
1. Learn more about working out on the keto diet with our keto exercise guide
2. Learn more about the keto diet with our beginners guide to keto
3. Discover the signs and symptoms to know for sure when you’re properly in ketosis
4. Check out these tips and tricks to save money and lose weight with our keto on a budget guide
5. Stock up your keto cupboard with this list of ready to eat keto snacks
6. Keto in a hurry? Make one of these keto friendly smoothies to fuel your day